SENATE BILL 447

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Benny Shendo, Jr. And Sandra D. Jeff

AN ACT

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; CREATING THE NATIVE AMERICAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ADVISORY COUNCIL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] NATIVE AMERICAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ADVISORY COUNCIL--CREATED--TERMS--QUORUM--MEETINGS.--

          A. There is created a "Native American suicide prevention advisory council". The council shall consist of eleven voting members and shall assist in developing policies, rules and priorities for the New Mexico clearinghouse for Native American suicide prevention.

          B. The members of the Native American suicide prevention advisory council shall be appointed as follows:

                (1) one member representing the eight northern Indian pueblos appointed by the chair of the eight northern Indian pueblos council, incorporated;

                (2) one member representing both the Pueblo of Laguna and the Pueblo of Zuni appointed by the chair of the all Indian pueblo council;

                (3) one member representing the all Indian pueblo council appointed by the chair of the all Indian pueblo council;

                (4) one member representing the southern pueblos appointed by the chair of the ten southern Indian pueblos council;

                (5) one member representing the eastern Navajo Nation appointed by the president of the Navajo Nation;

                (6) one member representing the western Navajo Nation appointed by the president of the Navajo Nation;

                (7) one member representing the Mescalero Apache Tribe appointed by the president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe;

                (8) one member representing the Jicarilla Apache Nation appointed by the president of the Jicarilla Apache Nation;

                (9) one member representing the urban Native American population appointed by the president of the national Indian youth council, incorporated; and

                (10) two members appointed by the chancellor for health sciences of the university of New Mexico, one member being a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or pueblo.

          C. The council shall elect from among its members a chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer.

          D. The members of the Native American suicide prevention advisory council shall be appointed for overlapping terms of six years each. No more than six of the members shall belong to the same political party. The members first appointed to the council shall determine by lot from among their group four members to serve two-year terms, four members to serve four-year terms and three members to serve six-year terms. If a position on the council becomes vacant for any reason, the successor shall be selected by the original appointing authority in the same manner as the original appointment was made and shall serve for the remainder of the term vacated.

          E. A majority of council members shall constitute a quorum to take action as the council. No act of the council is valid unless concurred to by a majority of its members present at a meeting at which a quorum exists.

          F. The Native American suicide prevention advisory council shall meet at the call of the chair or at a time requested in a written request to the chair by four members, but not less than twice each calendar year.

     SECTION 2. Section 9-7-6.7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011, Chapter 15, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "9-7-6.7. CLEARINGHOUSE FOR NATIVE AMERICAN SUICIDE PREVENTION--CULTURALLY BASED SUICIDE PREVENTION

INITIATIVES.--

          A. In consultation with the Indian affairs department, the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative, subject to available funding, shall establish:

                (1) a statewide clearinghouse and technical assistance program called the "New Mexico clearinghouse for Native American suicide prevention" to work with the Native American suicide prevention advisory council to provide culturally appropriate suicide prevention, intervention and post-event assistance statewide to Native American individuals, families and tribes, nations and pueblos living with suicide, attempted suicide or the risk of suicide; and

                (2) [three] culturally based Native American youth suicide prevention initiatives, each focused on the continuum of prevention, intervention and post-event assistance to Native American individuals, families and tribes, nations and pueblos living with suicide, attempted suicide or the risk of suicide in rural, frontier and urban communities.

          B. As used in this section, "Native American"

means a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, nation or pueblo."